Madrid's 2010 Shanghai Pavilion - a glazed sustainable housing solution wrapped in bamboo louvers - is about to undergo a sustainable upgrade with a new facade of Corten steel umbrellas. The building was designed by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sustainable-public-housing-by-foreign-office-architects/">Foreign Office Architects</a> and eventually converted into a commercial office and retail complex, although it is showing signs of rust and its bamboo elements have completely rotted out. So the municipality commissioned <a href="http://3gatti.com/">3Gatti Architecture Studio</a> to design a striking new shading system - read on for a closer look!

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

The new Corten steel umbrellas will provide daylighting, shading, and natural ventilation

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

The mechanical parts of the retractable umbrellas will be made of steel

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

Completely closed, the umbrellas protect against summer solar gain

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

Hopefully the weathered Corten steel facade will hold up better than the bamboo used previously

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

Elevation with open umbrellas

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

Elevation with closed umbrellas

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Umbrella Facade for Madrid Pavilion by 3Gatti Architecture Studio

Madrid's 2010 Shanghai Pavilion - a glazed sustainable housing solution wrapped in bamboo louvers - is about to undergo a sustainable upgrade with a new facade of Corten steel umbrellas. The building was designed by Foreign Office Architects and eventually converted into a commercial office and retail complex, although it is showing signs of rust and its bamboo elements have completely rotted out. So the municipality commissioned 3Gatti Architecture Studio to design a striking new shading system - read on for a closer look!